Ot - used truck

So I saw a 1997 F350 for sale. Has 183,000 miles on the 7.3 gas engine. Add says. It had the head gaskets replaced about 15,000 miles ago. Anyone have thoughts on these? Works out to 10k miles per year. Does not look worked hard or beat up.. not a plow truck.

Gas engine (460) is called 7.5. 7.3 is the powerstroke diesel. Both are solid, dependable engines. Expect 8-10 mpg on the gasser if that is a factor. My 2002 7.3 powerstroke with 6 spd manual and 4.10 gears is consistent 15-17. That is no load behind it.

7.3 gas engine? There was 7.3 diesel and a 7.5 gas. Diesel I'd be looking at it.

Anytime you buy an old vehicle it will need some work. If you are having to hire a mechanic to do everything that could get expensive. About eight years ago I bought a 1993 Chev van and used it for about two years before it needed new main bearings in the engine. The engine was so difficult to get in and out of the van it ended up taking me two weeks to do the work but I did the work myself and I'm far from being a mechanic. Since then I've only had to do minor repairs and maintenance to the van and I'm still using it.

I am on my third 7.3 truck. 1997 is a nice OBS truck. I currently own a 2001 with 175,000 miles. Transmissions seem to be the weak link on these trucks. I like the performance and the torque on diesels for towing versus a similar gas truck.

(quoted from post at 20:04:34 02/02/17) So I saw a 1997 F350 for sale. Has 183,000 miles on the 7.3 gas engine. Add says. It had the head gaskets replaced about 15,000 miles ago. Anyone have thoughts on these? Works out to 10k miles per year. Does not look worked hard or beat up.. not a plow truck.

Click to expand...

The 460, 7.5 gas engine was about bullet proof. Depending on the gearing anywhere from 9MPG or so 15 or slightly better. I'd buy one in a heartbeat if I could find one close, in decent shape and less than 200K on it. Some of those were geared at 3:73 or 3:55 IIRC. Fella here with a 96/97? He claims that with his 3:73's he can bump 18 MPG at 55, no load.

Rick

I have ran and worked on the 460 engine since they first came out and i am a hard core lover of the 460 . I had one in a 88 F 350 4x4 dual rear wheel cab and chassis with a five speed . Never had a problem with the engine and when i sold the truck it had 287and change on the meter , Now i never run the truck any harder then it would run and i never hauled more then i could fit on the truck and trailer . I stayed up on maintenance and changed oil every 3-3500 miles i ran Castrol 10-40 in the winter months and 20w50 in the summer months . some weeks from this time of year till May the oil was getting changed twice a week due to the miles i was racking up running three states . Myonly complaint was the rest of the truck like computer , rear end , U/joints till i stopped buying NAPA joints and went to Spicer joints , on the rear end the problems there were due to the crush spacer collapsing and eating the ring and pinion and the hyd clutch master cylinder and slave cylinders . You were wise to carry a spare computer and the slave and master cylinder behind the seat at all times and a qt of brake fluid . while i was running the NAPA u/joints ya had to carry TWO of them . With the updated computer i never minded the fuel milage i was getting BUT there was some changes made to the timing gears as i did change to the ones for a 1970 gear set . Cam shaft is the same as first produced just cam timing was layed back with the gears . Should have kept it and rebuilt the whole truck But i had to have a Dodge . things i don't like about my Dodge , (1) No lock out ft. hubs (2) the heater . (3) Gear ratio , (4) fuel mileage .

I've had many ford trucks and never an engine problem. Rust on the other hand... Check the frame thoroughly, as well as surrounding parts. You can end up in big trouble real easy with them. I had to scrap one that the frame had rusted through where the rear axle suspension attaches on the drivers side. Fixing it would have been a job and a half, way more than the value of the truck.

So, I am curious about the head gaskets getting done. Does that seem normal or something going on? As far as rust, it looked very good. I currently run a 89' f250 with 5.8 gas and only 116k miles on it. It has rust problems. I rebuilt the back 2' of the frame, need a new gas tank, etc.